Fluid-dispensing device



A. A. DENSMORE FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE March 17,1925.

Filed Oct. 23, 1925 Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLUID-DISPENSING- DEVICE.

Application filed October 23, 1923. Serial No. 670,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. DnNsMonn, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fluid dispensing devices, such as tubes for shaving cream, and the like and more especially to an adjustably operated outlet for the same.

More specifically, the invention comprises a nozzle for such devices, having an outlet aperture through which the material to be dispensed may flow, a valve adapted to fit against said aperture of the nozzle and. partially or completely close the same, and a cap enclosing the valve which is adjustably but permanently connected to the nozzle and may control the rate of flow of the flui The cap is preferably provided with an opening which is adapted to receive and be closed b said valve (in one position of adjustment? under pressure of the fluid. In another adjustment position, the cap retains the valve in its opening and also retracts the valve against the nozzle aperture. In both positions the valve is so shaped as to protrude beyond the opening in the cap. Means are also provided for retaining the cap upon the nozzle. A pas sage may be provided in the valve, extending from the protruding portion to a portion intermediate its seating surfaces. The seating surfaces of the opening in the cap and the nozzle aperture may be fitted with gaskets if desired.

The invention is obviously adaptable to various types of containers and may be used with any fluid material such as liquids, pastes, greases, colloidal suspensions, and the like, or even impalpable powders if possessed of a suflicient-ly fluid consistency.

A preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to containers for shaving cream will be described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section of a dispensing device comprising a collapsible tube and outlet, the outlet being in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a section of the same with the outlet in open position;

Fig. 3 is a modification in which the valve is perforated;

Fig. 4 is a further modification employin a spherical valve.

11 Figs. 1 and 2, 1 representsareservoir in the form of a collapsible tube or the like, to which a nozzle 2 is joined in suitable manner, having a passage 3 therethrough and provided with a flat surface 4 surrounding its outlet 5. A slightl projecting exterior thread 6 surroun s the nozzle, forming an annular bearing surface 7 in its under side.

A valve 8 is shown, having an under surface or seat 9, adapted to fit against the surface 4 and to partially or completely close outlet 5, as desired. The valve 8 is also provided with an upper rounded surface 10 surmounted conical surface 11 and vertical sides 12.

The hollow cap 13 is provided with an internally threaded portion 14, adapted to mesh with the exterior thread 6 of the nozzle, lugs or an annular ring, such as edge 16 which is spun inwardly m such manner that upon unscrewing cap 13 it will engage the' annular bearing surface 7 upon said nozzle. The upper portion of the cap 13 comprises a rounded exterior surface 17 adjacent the o ening 18. The interior surface 19 ofsaid cap surrounding the opening 18 is bevelled in suitable manner to serve as a seat for the conical surface 11 of valve 8, the rounded portion 10 thereof protruding through the opening 18 as clearl shown in Fig. 1.

In ig. 2, the cap 13 is shown in raised position upon the nozzle 2, the valve 8 being forced outwardly by the fluid pressure through outlet 5, but restrained from seating against surface 19 by depression thereof against the surface 25.

The modification shown by Fig. 3 isidentical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but with the addition of a passageway 21 through valve 8, opening into the rounded top surface 10 thereof and into the vertical sides 12.

In Fig. 4 a further modification of the device is shown in which the valve 8 is replaced by a valve 22 which is spherical in shape and in the position shownis restrained from seating against the surface 19 by pressing against the surface 25, as in Fig. 2.

When not in use, the device is preferably closed (as in Fig. 1) by screwing the cap 13 downwardly upon the nozzle 2, the bevelled surface 19 of the cap seating upon the upper surface 9 of the valve 8, forcing the latter downwardly until its lower seat 9 fits against the top surface 2 of the nozzle, completely closing the tube.

To open and use the device, the cap 13 is first screwed upwardly until the edge 16 engages the annular ring 6, preventing its' complete removal or to any intermediate position. Pressure of the fluid, passing from container 1 through outlet 5 will now tend to raise valve 8 and force its upper seat 11 against the inner surface 19 of the cap and to close the opening 18. This serves to prevent accidental loss of fluid. \Vhen it is desired to permit the fluid to escape the rounded portion 10 of the valve (which projects slightly beyond the'opening 18 as already pointed out) is forced inwardly against the fluid, as by pressing it against the face when applying shaving cream. In this position, the fluid or shaving cream will flow out between the valve and nozzle, around the valve and out through opening 18, as in Fig. 2. When released, the valve will again close the opening against further discharge, under pressure of the fluid itself.

If a more viscous fluid is used or a more rapid supply is desired, the valve 8 may be provided with passageways 21 (Fig. 3) which will permit flowtherethrough whether the valve 8 is depressed as in Fig. 2, or whether it is seated into the opening 18 as in Fig. 3, but it is completely closed by screwing the cap down as in Fig. 1.

A similar result to that obtained by use of the modification in Fig. 3 may be effected by the further .modification as shown in Fig. 4. This is essentially the same as the previous constructions. The valve 22, however, is spherical in shape, and may completely or partially close the outlet 5 when seated against the surface 4, and is adapted to completely close the opening 18 in the cap. It may therefore permit the influx of a fluid material (as in the original filling of the container) or it may be depressed from the opening '18, by surface 25, and permit the flow of fluid around it, similar to valve 8. And when cap 13 is screwed downwardly upon it, -or when it is not depressed, valve 22 will seat against and close opening 18 against unintentionaldischarge.

This invention therefore provides a dispensing device for fluid materials which is effectively sealed when not in use, whether it has been intentionally closed or unintentionally left open by the user. It accordingly prevents contamination of the contents, and the loss of material, which is exceedingly objectionable 'with substances of this character, as is well known. The amount desired may be easilycontrolled and applied directly where it is wanted, and the cap is securelyretained in position, preventing its loss and consequent ineonvenience which is commonly experienced with devices of this character which are now used.

I claim:

1. A fluid dispensing device comprising a reservoir provided with a nozzle member having a discharge passage therethrough, a hollow valve cap engaging the nozzle and movable axially of the latter, said cap having a delivery aperture in its end, and a valve in said cap having a surface adapted when the cap occupies one position of adjustment axially of the nozzle to cooperate with the nozzle to close the discharge passage therethrough, said valve also having a rounded end adapted at the same time to fit into and project partially through the aperture in said cap to close said aperture, said valve being unseated both from the nozzle and cap when the cap occupies another position of adjustment axially of the nozzle.

2. A- fluid dispensing device com rising a reservoir, a nozzle member, threa s upon said nozzle, a hollow, rounded valve-cap member surmounting said nozzle member having an opening adapted to receive said threaded nozzle, and an aperture therein, and a valve, contained in said cap, having a seat adapted to fit against the aperture of said nozzle and a rounded seat adapted to fit into and project partially through the aperture in said-cap and a of said members adapted to engage a projection upon the other of said members to prevent separation of the members.

'3. A fluid dispensin device, com rising a reservoir, a threade nozzle mem er, an aperture therein, a hollow, rounded, valvelug upon one cap member surmounting said nozzle memher having an opening adapted to receive said threaded nozzle member and an aperture therein, and a valve contained within said cap having a seat adapted to fit against said nozzle aperture and a rounded seat adapted to fit against and project partially through the aperture in said cap and an open passageway in said valve extending from the projecting portion thereof to a point intermediate the seating portions thereof.

4. In combination, a nozzle member comprising an aperture therein and a threaded portion, a hollow valve cap member comprising an aperture and a threaded opening adapted to receive the threaded portionof the nozzle member, a lug upon one of said members adapted to engage an annular recess upon the other member and a valve 5. In combination an apertured nozzle member comprising a threaded portion, a hollow, rounded valve-cap member comprising an aperture therein and a threaded opening to receive the threaded portion of the nozzle member, an annular recess in one of said members, a lug upon the other of said members in engagement with said recess, and a valve contained within said valve cap, comprising a seat adapted to fit against the aperture of said nozzle and a rounded seat adapted to fit into and project slightly beyond the aperture in said valve cap.

6. In combination with a fluid container having a threaded nozzle terminating in a valve seat, a cap comprising a tubular body internally threaded at one end to engage the nozzle and provided at the other end with an internal Valve seat defining a. delivery passage, and a valve disposed within the tubular. body of the cap, the valve seating against the seat at the end of the nozzle and also against the seat in the cap when the cap is screwed down on the nozzle and being free to unseat when the cap is screwed outwardly.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this fifteenth day of October, 1923.

ALBERT A. DENSMORE. 

